Xcel Energy is currently providing carbon free electricity to customers in the Midwest through one of the country's largest solar projects, marking an important milestone in the company's clean energy transition and the first of several major investments in the Sherco plant in central Minnesota.

Bob Frenzel, Chairman, President, and CEO of Xcel Energy, said, "The progress we have made at Sherco Solar shows that we are not only talking about the future of clean energy, but also building it." "This is the first large-scale solar facility we own and operate, and it is an important milestone on Xcel Energy's path to achieving our carbon free vision by using innovative technology, creating employment opportunities, supporting our communities, and ensuring reliability. Our customers. I commend our employees, contractors, and partners for working together to make this transformation a reality

Sherco Solar first connected to the upstream power grid in the Midwest at the end of October, providing customers in the region with over 220 megawatts of low-cost solar power. The other two connection phases will be launched in 2025 and 2026. Once completed, Sherco Solar's total installed capacity will be 710 MW, providing sufficient clean energy for 150000 households in the Midwest and Northern regions, and replacing the capacity of the first coal-fired unit retired from the nearby Sherco plant last year.

Sherco Solar will provide the lowest cost solar energy for Xcel Energy's upstream systems in the Midwest. This project represents an investment of approximately 1.1 billion US dollars in clean energy infrastructure.

Sherco Solar is creating 400 high paying union construction jobs, as well as 12 ongoing operations and maintenance jobs. This project provides opportunities for participants in the Xcel Energy Power Up workforce and development program, with the Public Utilities Commission and Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development playing key roles in developing the program. The labor program aims to provide opportunities for underrepresented individuals in the energy and construction industries.

Sherco Solar is creating hundreds of jobs and providing a living wage for the 292 members of IBEW, who are building clean energy infrastructure to provide electricity for the state for decades to come while maintaining brightness for the people of Minnesota, "said Jeff Heimerl, the business manager of the company. International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 292. Nearly 200 IBEW members have helped deliver the first phase of Sherco Solar, and we are working hard on the next phase to help the state achieve its 100% carbon free energy production goal